Press Releases

New Michelle Magorian title - 2014

We are extremely pleased to announce we have acquired a new novel from Michelle Magorian, the author of Goodnight Mister Tom, A Cuckoo in the Nest and many others.

Impossible!, is about a twelve-year-old actress at a theatre school during the 1960s. During her time there she comes under the wing of Joan Littlewood, a real-life director who is best known for developing the left-wing Theatre Workshop.

The book will be published in November this year on the centenary of Littlewood’s birth.

The founder of Troika Books, Martin West, was the editor of Magorian's debut Goodnight Mister Tom. The novel, about a boy evacuee in World War Two, was published in 1981 and won the Guardian Children's Fiction Award.

“Goodnight Mister Tom was one of the first books I edited and it always felt like a privilege to work with Michelle,” he said. “I am absolutely thrilled to be working with her again and to be publishing Impossible! on the Troika Books list.”

Troika Books Press Release - 19th December 2013

An exclusive extract of The Broken King by Philip Womack will be available in The Telegraph for the iPad on Christmas Day.

The Christmas Day edition of The Telegraph for iPad will feature an exclusive extract from Philip Womack’s forthcoming children’s fantasy novel, The Broken King (Troika Books, June 2014).

The Broken King is a thrilling quest adventure that takes Browning’s poem 'Childe Roland to the Dark Tower Came' as its starting point. It tells the story of a boy called Simon who must fight a terrifying enemy when his little sister is snatched away to dark underworld.

‘Philip is a writer of huge talent, and The Broken King is perfect for the children and grand children of our readers,’ said Laura Silverman, Assistant iPad editor.

Philip Womack is one of the judges for this year’s Costa Children’s Book Award, a literary critic for The Telegraphand also a Contributing Editor to the Literary Review. The Broken King is his third novel for children and follows The Other Book and The Liberators, which won him comparisons to Alan Garner and J.K. Rowling.

Troika Books will publish The Broken King, book one in the Darkening Path trilogy in June 2014.

Troika Books press release for The Darkening Path - 4th November 2013

Troika Books, the new children’s independent set up by veteran publisher Martin West is pleased to announce a major acquisition for 2014. The company has acquired The Darkening Path, a fantasy trilogy by Philip Womack, acclaimed author of The Other Book and The Liberators. The first book in the trilogy, The Broken King, will publish in June 2014.

“The Darkening Path is a superlatively well-written quest adventure that will keep readers on the edge of their seats from the opening page to the very last word,” says West, “Taking as its starting point Browning’s poem 'Childe Roland to the Dark Tower Came', the book tells the story of a boy called Simon who must undertake a dangerous journey into a brilliantly realised underworld to save his little sister. It is reminiscent of Alan Garner and Susan Cooper, intelligent fantasy for young readers of the very highest order. We are anticipating excellent review coverage and are hopeful of prize short-listings too.”

Troika’s promotional plans include trade support and a PR campaign. Proofs of book one, The Broken King, will be available in January.

West acquired UK and Commonwealth rights from Tom Williams at the Williams Agency.

Plus, Troika Books bringing Snowy back at last!

Troika Books has also acquired rights in Berlie Doherty’s much-loved picture book Snowy and will reissue it in February next year. Snowy is the story of Rachel, who lives on a canal barge, Snowy is the white horse who pulls her boat. “Snowy won the Children’s Book Award for the best picture book of the year on publication in 1993 and is a favourite with many readers, booksellers and librarians. But it has been unavailable for some years,” says West. “I am thrilled to be bringing this outstanding children’s book back into print and immensely proud to have Berlie Doherty, one of our finest children’s authors, on the Troika Books list.”